# Homeschooled in Dubai, Three Sisters Reach Ivy League
Three sisters who grew up in Dubai without ever setting foot in a classroom have earned degrees from two of the world's most prestigious universities — Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. Their story is a remarkable demonstration of what homeschooling, structured discipline, and strong parental commitment can achieve.
Dorothy Wins Top Award at University of Pennsylvania
The spotlight recently fell on Dorothy Thomas, the middle sister, who was awarded the Richard J. Estes Global Citizenship Award by the University of Pennsylvania. The award recognises a graduating student from UPenn's Nonprofit Leadership programme who has demonstrated exceptional academic performance and a commitment to positive social impact.
Dorothy completed her master's in nonprofit leadership with a perfect GPA of 4.0. She credited her homeschooling background for preparing her well for the academic rigour ahead.
"The flexibility of homeschooling allowed us to do so much more than what we could have done in a normal school," Dorothy said. "My parents monitored what time we rose from bed, the organisation of the day, doing our homework and performance in school — they taught us discipline."
All Three Sisters Are High Achievers
Dorothy's siblings are equally accomplished:
- Stefanie Danielle (eldest) holds two bachelor's degrees — from Arizona State University and Liberty University — and a master's degree from Harvard University, with a specialisation in leadership and business management. - Darianne (youngest) is completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, she was honoured with the US President's Award for Academic Excellence.
Why Their Father Chose Homeschooling
The decision to homeschool came from Ashish Thomas, who has lived in Dubai for 37 years. He and his wife Rekha pulled their children from conventional schooling after concluding that traditional schools were not drawing out the best in them.
"This realization arose due to the fact that we observed that their school had no capacity to tap the best in our children," Ashish explained.
Stefanie Danielle recalled the moment the family made the switch: "We were on a family holiday on a farm in Ireland and we ran over to new friends — we don't have to go to school any more."
A Curriculum Built Around Their Goals
The family initially followed a South African curriculum before transitioning to an American system in preparation for higher education in the United States. The flexibility of home-based learning allowed all three sisters to pursue a wide range of interests, travel frequently, and develop well-rounded personalities alongside strong academic foundations.
Their story offers a compelling case for homeschooling in the UAE — and a reminder that with the right structure and parental involvement, children can reach the very top of global academia.
